The total amount of fireworks to be sold in the city will be kept at about last year's level, but a cap will be placed on the size of some of the ordnance, and the no-shoot zones will be broadened, said Zhang Linsheng, vice director of the fire bureau.

The Spring Festival, which celebrates the lunar New Year, begins on January 24 and lasts for two weeks. The first, and largest, wave of fireworks starts on the eve of the holiday. Two other "auspicious" days in the festival period also are marked with firecrackers.

During this year's Spring Festival, two people died, two were injured and 182 fires were started by errant explosives. In 1999, 100 were hurt and there were 331 fires. About 80 percent of the casualties were children.

Part of the problem is that people are attracted to the lower-priced illegal fireworks sold by unlicensed vendors, according to public safety officials. The cheap stuff is more prone to having quick fuses and other defects, they said.

Zhang noted that Shanghai residents spend 25 million yuan (US$3 million) to 30 million yuan on fireworks annually. Only 8 million yuan in legal goods is sold.

"The illegal fireworks begin pouring into Shanghai in July," said Zhang. "So far this year, we have found 25,900 boxes worth 3.7 million yuan."

Setting off fireworks within the Inner Ring Road will be banned again this year - though in many areas past enforcement has been lax. The ban area will be expanded for the first time to include Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone in Pudong District.

As it did last year, the city will issue only 1,000 licenses to fireworks vendors. Within the no-blast zones, only 100 licenses will be granted.

"We will also reduce the types of the fireworks and set a ceiling on their size," said Zhang.

Minibombs and rockets measuring more than 40 centimeters will be banned, for example.

(Eastday 12/13/2000)